COVID-19: Dependence on China and discrimination on PoK people deepening crisis in Pakistan

Islamabad/IBNS: At the time of crisis when Pakistan is still depending on China, its all-weather ally and the epicentre of the COVID-19 disease spread, reports are emerging that PM Imran Khan-led government is still practicing discrimination and not extending help to people of Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (POK).

COVID-19 has extended its killer hands in the South Asian country in the past few weeks and so far 2286 cases have been reported from the nation. 32 deaths have also been recorded.

Even in such a scenario, the Pakistan government is reportedly following discriminatory policies towards people of PoK who are not being provided medical facilities needed to tackle the crisis.

The discrimination has left people of PoK angered.

"The situation in PoK is extremely precarious. According to newspaper reports, the Pakistani government is constantly discriminating against the common people and even not supplying basic necessities to the people in PoK," JNU Professor Nalin Mohapatra told Zee News.

China has been providing huge medical supplies and doctors to Pakistan to handle the deadly virus but PoK has been rendered an orphan, opined the Indian news channel in its report.

The domination of China on Pakistan is evident even at this time of crisis when the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) work has been continuing in PoK and even Beijing directed Islamabad to reopen the Khunjerab Pass so that the medical supplies could be provided to Chinese engineers and labourers.

An estimated 5,000 Chinese engineers and labourers are currently working on the CPEC projects, reported Zee News.

Gilgit-Baltistan region has been hit by severe COVID-19 outbreak in recent weeks and things have worsened, media reports said.

As per the Pakistan Health Department, there are 153 cases in Gilgit and Baltistan alone among the 2,000 cases reported from all over Pakistan, reported Zee News.

The Deputy Speaker of Gilgit-Baltistan Assembly, Zagarullah Khan, accompanied by Gilgit-Baltistan Law Minister Airangazeb while visiting the Nagar and Hunza in Gilgit-Baltistan on March 30 accused the Pakistan government of not providing any aid to that region, reported the news channel.

"It appears that Pakistan govt has no control over the situation and they are looking towards China to bail them out. In the long-run, China may treat Pakistan as its another province. This is the reason why it is keeping a mum on Pakistan's activities in promoting terrorism and giving shelter to radical groups," said Mohapatra hinting the troublesome dependence of Pakistan on China.

COVID-19: Dependence on China and discrimination on PoK people deepening crisis in Pakistan